Dubai: UAE’s domestic cricketers stamped their authority with match-winning performances in the ongoing CSS Group Kerala Premier League at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy Oval grounds. Some of them even overshadowed Test stars who are participating in this richest tournament, which carries a prize money of Dh250,000.
Yogi Group Thrissur Dynamites shocked Danube Idukki Spices that fielded Pakistan Test and international stars like Sohail Tanvir, Azhar Mahmood, Riaz Afridi and Mahela Udawate. After restricting Idukki to 141 for seven, Thrissur scored an emphatic nine-wicket win with Shehzad Manna cracking an unbeaten 76. Though Tanvir gave away only 19 runs from his four overs, Mahmood, known for his Twenty20 cricket skills, was hit for 33 runs in his 3.3 overs.
Speaking to Gulf News, Shiva Pagarani, owner of Thrissur team, said: “We proved domestic players are strong. Manna even hit Tanvir over the covers for a six and Swapnil Patil virtually bullied them with the bat.”
The star performer for Idduki was UAE’s young opener Andri Berenger, who top scored with 52 runs. Thrissur had even beaten Thumbay Kasargod Leopards by seven wickets through UAE’s Salman Faris, who took three wickets for just six runs.
Though Calicut Zamorins lost to Dunes Cuisine Kannur Veerans by two wickets, UAE young promising bowlers Justin James with a spell of 3 for 25 and Nashwan Nazir with two wickets stood out.
Defending champions Avant Garde Logistics Palakkad Harvestors regained their winning ways after their first match defeat to Capital CMC Kochi Diwans through a 49 runs victory over One Stop Tourism Kollam Kernels. Mohammad Waseem bowled a deadly spell of 4 for 24 to bowl out the strong Kollam batting line up for 141 after Palakkad had posted 190 for 3.
Kollam had earlier beaten Seven Seas Trivandrum Royals by three wickets. Kaddas-Twin Info Alleppey Ripples down Thumbay Kasargod Leopards by eight wickets through their Irfan Hajee’s fine spell of 3 for 18.
Salman Babar of Dunes Cusine Kannur was in full flow through his breezy 72 runs off 42 balls with four boundaries and four sixes in his team’s 41-run win over Seven Seas Trivandrum.
